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Post by fishbelly on Dec 24, 2020 16:32:06 GMT -8
Does anyone have experience with Stencil Cutter machines?
I am thinking about getting one, but not sure which one would be good for our model railroad application.
Stuff like billboard lettering on the sides of freight cars or the larger lettering on the sides of locomotives like Santa Fe and such.
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Post by thunderhawk on Dec 24, 2020 16:51:38 GMT -8
Like a Cricut? I use one for cutting windows for my cabooses but it wouldn't be accurate enough for lettering on a car. Possibly with some manual touchup after cutting... The corners are not always 100% square as it it uses a pivoting blade. I know some use them to make paint stencils for large billboard lettering on buildings.
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Post by Donnell Wells on Dec 25, 2020 0:46:31 GMT -8
Hi Brian,
I have both a Silhouette Cameo 2 and 3. I bought the Cameo 3 because apparently there were things it could do that the Cameo 2 could not, or could not do as well. And now the Cameo 4 is supposed to be much better than the Cameo 3. Either way, the two I have are good machines and have done everything I have needed them to do. Not too much with model building, but excellent with crafting and kids school projects!
I have seen many model builders use them to make masks for canopies, and various markings and insignias on tanks and aircraft. I am certain the same techniques can be applied to railroad models. There is a 99-page thread on a UK model railway forum that provides tremendous insight into using this brand of machines to build railroad models.
Donnell
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Post by ncrc5315 on Dec 25, 2020 5:54:22 GMT -8
Hi Brian,
I have both a Silhouette Cameo 2 and 3. I bought the Cameo 3 because apparently there were things it could do that the Cameo 2 could not, or could not do as well. And now the Cameo 4 is supposed to be much better than the Cameo 3. Either way, the two I have are good machines and have done everything I have needed them to do. Not too much with model building, but excellent with crafting and kids school projects!
I have seen many model builders use them to make masks for canopies, and various markings and insignias on tanks and aircraft. I am certain the same techniques can be applied to railroad models. There is a 99-page thread on a UK model railway forum that provides tremendous insight into using this brand of machines to build railroad models.
Donnell Would you have link to this thread? Thanks |
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Post by lars on Dec 25, 2020 7:29:49 GMT -8
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Post by 12bridge on Dec 25, 2020 11:19:10 GMT -8
I started looking into a Cricut Maker since it uses an Exacto blade, but never got very far.
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Post by Donnell Wells on Dec 25, 2020 11:20:28 GMT -8
Sorry for leaving you all hanging. Here is the link:
A guide to using the Silhouette Cameo
It took me a few days to get through, but it really was informative. Be sure to keep a notepad handy to jot down page numbers to reference things as you go along. 99 pages of content is a lot of information to try and remember where you saw something that peaked your interest 40 pages back!
Donnell
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Post by sgoti on Dec 25, 2020 22:05:34 GMT -8
I also have a Cameo and Cameo 3.
As with any tool, it's all in learning the nuances. Masks/stencils for lettering? You bet! I have used mine for cutting stencils in HO scale for the striping on GECX 2005 for a local painter, also did warbonnet and lettering masks for am O scale SD40-2 (same painter).
The pivoting blade/rounded corner issue is easily fixed by selecting the line segment overcut option.
Came in very handy when I did the vinyl lettering for my Grande Gold and silver Subaru Outback in 1:1 scale, but that's another story.
One note, I did buy the Silhouette Connect plugin to allow me to operate the Cameo directly from Adobe Illustrator CS5. Well worth it. Previously, I had been designing in Illustrator, exporting as a DXF file, then importing that into Silhouette Studio (basic version). Doable, but tedious.
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Post by schroed2 on Dec 29, 2020 5:13:22 GMT -8
did anybody here have success in cutting thin styrene (0.02"/0.5mm and less) with any of the stencil cutters ? What I have found online from 2017 and older, nobody had success...
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Post by sgoti on Dec 29, 2020 16:10:24 GMT -8
did anybody here have success in cutting thin styrene (0.02"/0.5mm and less) with any of the stencil cutters ? What I have found online from 2017 and older, nobody had success... I have not tried it yet, but would like to when time permits/project calls for it. Will definitely update if/when I get a chance. |
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